Intubation aids

Abstract

An intubation aid (10) for insertion into an endotracheal tube (30) has a cross-sectional shape having at least one vertex defining a longitudinally extending edge. The intubation aid (10) is supported within the endotracheal tube (30), in use, by the longitudinally extending edge.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An intubation aid for insertion into an endotracheal tube, the intubation aid comprising:
 a distal end region; 
 a distal intermediate region connected to the distal end region and having a cross-sectional shape having at least one vertex defining a longitudinally extending edge, such that the intubation aid is supported within the endotracheal tube, in use, by the longitudinally extending edge; 
 a proximal intermediate region connected to the distal intermediate region and having a flattened cross-sectional shape having orthogonal major and minor axes, wherein the major axis is at least 1.2 times larger than the minor axis; and 
 a proximal end region connected to the proximal intermediate region, wherein at least one of:
 the proximal end region of the intubation aid comprises a taper, such that, when the intubation aid is bent, in use, the proximal end region can be wedged into a proximal end of the endotracheal tube at a portion of the distal or proximal intermediate region; and 
 the proximal end region of the intubation aid has a cut-out and/or recessed portion, such that, when the intubation aid is bent, in use, the proximal end region of the intubation aid can be wedged into the proximal end of the endotracheal tube with a portion of the distal or proximal intermediate region received within the cut-out and/or recessed portion of the proximal end region. 
 
 
     
     
       2. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally extending edge is defined across the entire length of distal and proximal intermediate regions of the intubation aid. 
     
     
       3. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end region of the intubation aid comprises the taper, such that, when the intubation aid is bent, in use, the proximal end region can be wedged into the proximal end of the endotracheal tube at the portion of the distal or proximal intermediate region. 
     
     
       4. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end region of the intubation aid has the cut-out and/or recessed portion, such that, when the intubation aid is bent, in use, the proximal end region of the intubation aid can be wedged into the proximal end of the endotracheal tube with the portion of the distal or proximal intermediate region received within the cut-out and/or recessed portion of the proximal end region. 
     
     
       5. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the distal intermediate region has a regular polygonal cross-sectional shape; and 
 the proximal intermediate region has a flattened polygonal cross-sectional shape. 
 
     
     
       6. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the distal end region of the intubation aid comprises a rounded tip, the rounded tip comprising a circular cross-section and being integrally formed with the intubation aid; 
 when not subjected to an external force, the distal end region is bent at an unflexed angle with respect to the distal intermediate region; and 
 the distal end region is sufficiently flexible to be bent at a flexed angle different from the unflexed angle, but regains the unflexed angle when not subjected to an external force. 
 
     
     
       7. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the proximal end region of the intubation aid comprises a handle having a polygonal cross-section. 
     
     
       8. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the intubation aid is flexible. 
     
     
       9. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the intubation aid is malleable. 
     
     
       10. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the distal intermediate region comprises at least three vertices. 
     
     
       11. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cross-sectional shape of the distal intermediate region comprises six vertices. 
     
     
       12. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the intubation aid comprises a unitary body. 
     
     
       13. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the intubation aid configured to be selectively used as either a bougie or a stylet. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus comprising an endotracheal tube and an intubation aid according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
       15. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the distal intermediate region has a regular hexagonal cross-sectional shape having six vertices defining six longitudinally extending edges; and 
 the proximal intermediate region has a flattened hexagonal cross-sectional shape having two opposing, relatively wide sides and four relatively narrow sides, wherein the minor axis bisects the two relatively wide sides. 
 
     
     
       16. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the distal intermediate region comprises:
 a first distal intermediate sub-region connected to the distal end region; 
 a second distal intermediate sub-region connected to the first distal intermediate sub-region; and 
 a third distal intermediate sub-region connected to the second distal intermediate sub-region, wherein:
 the first and third distal intermediate sub-regions are sufficiently malleable to retain a bent shape when not subjected to an external force; and 
 the second distal intermediate sub-region and the proximal intermediate region are sufficiently flexible to be bent, but regain a straight shape when not subjected to an external force. 
 
 
     
     
       17. An intubation aid as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein:
 the distal end region of the intubation aid comprises a rounded tip, the rounded tip comprising a circular cross-section and being integrally formed with the intubation aid; 
 when not subjected to an external force, the distal end region is bent at an unflexed angle with respect to the distal intermediate region; 
 the distal end region is sufficiently flexible to be bent at a flexed angle different from the unflexed angle, but regains the unflexed angle when not subjected to an external force; 
 the distal intermediate region has a regular hexagonal cross-sectional shape having six vertices defining six longitudinally extending edges; 
 the proximal intermediate region has a flattened hexagonal cross-sectional shape having two opposing, relatively wide sides and four relatively narrow sides, wherein the minor axis bisects the two relatively wide sides; 
 the longitudinally extending edge is defined across the entire length of distal and proximate intermediate regions of the intubation aid; and 
 the intubation aid is configured to be selectively used as either a bougie or a stylet. 
 
     
     
       18. Apparatus comprising an endotracheal tube and an intubation aid according to  claim 17 .